Charles smith



(No Model.)

Afrniv'r @reiner CHARLES SMITH, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBlA.

BRIDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 531,753, dated January l, 1895 Application iled December B, 1.8 93.

To @ZZ zcwm, z'f may con/cern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Bridle, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to that class of bridles which embody a rein connected with the bit and passing upwardly through eyes or over pulleys and adapted to draw the bit directly up in the horses mouth instead of against the lower' jaw. The object of my invention is to provide a simple andiniproved bridle of this class, which will possess advantages in point of inexpensiveness, effectiveness, ease and convenience in operation, facility of adjustment, durability, and general efficiency, and which will insure thorough control of the horse and effectively prevent the animal from taking or holding the bit in the teeth.

ln the drawings:-Figure l is a perspective vieyy of the bridle embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side view illustrating the operation or adjustment. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the pulleys. Fig. i is a detail perspective view illustrating the gage or adjusting device.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the head band; B, the throat latch, and C the brow band. The head band and throat latch are preferably formed in one piece, the latter being simply an extension of the former, but it is obvious that they may be formed in two separate pieces if desired. The brow band is provided with eyes or loops, o c, at its rear ends, embracing the end or side portions of the headband, upon which latter member the brow band is preferably movable or adjustable. When the head band and throat latch are formed of separate pieces, the loops c c will embrace both the head band and throat latch and thus secure these separate members together.

D designates the bit, which may be of any suitable construction, but is preferably of the form known as a check snaftle bit, having the side rings, d d.

E designates the main or check snaftle rein,

Serial No. 492,9201/5. (No model.)

which has its ends connected with the bit rings d d, preferably by means of buckles, e e, as shown.

F designates an auxiliary bridoon rein, which has its front ends connected with the bit rings d d, preferably by means of buckles, ff, as shown. The ends of the rein F pass from the bit upwardly overpulleys, G, secured to the ends of the head band, and from thence downwardly under corresponding pulleys, H, secured to the bit rings d d, and thence rearwardly, as shown. The pulleys H are mounted upon the bit rings between the ends of the reins E and F, and the end portions of the rein F are preferably rounded, as shown at f', to facilitate the operation of the rein with relation to the pulleys.

The pulley devices G preferably embody an approximately U-shaped block or body, g, forminga rounded eye or opening, g', through which the rein is adapted to pass, and carrying aroller, G', suitablyjournaled or mounted between the ends of the arms of the block or body. Projecting from the opposite end of the body is an eye or loop, g2, by which the pulley device is mounted or secured in position upon the end 0f the head band.

he pulley devices H are substantially the same in construction as the devices G, and embody a corresponding block or body, 7i, forming an opening, 72.',aud carry a roller, H. The body h is likewise provided with a projecting loop or eye, h2, by which the pulley device is mounted upon the bit ring and is adapted to play thereon. lt will be noted that the connection between the head band and bit is thus formed by the auxiliary bridoon rein, and to provide fora fixed relation between the limit of play of the bit and the head gear and to provide for adjustment of the bridle for use upon different sized horses, gages or stops, l, are secured at a suitable point upon the front end portions of the rein F. These gages maybe of any suitable or adapted construction and may be fixed or adjustable. The 9 gage may be formed by a simple knot in the rein, and when the gage employed is a fixed or permanent one the adj ustability of the bridle for use upon different sized horses may be effected by means of the buckles ff. I prefer IOO to employ an adjustable gage constructed substantially as herein shown and embodying an approximately U-shaped main piece, I', having perforations, t" i', at its ends, which perforations receive the rounded portions f of the bridle. The stop piece I may be adjusted to differentpoints on the rein by sliding it upon the same, and the stop may be secured in the position to which it is adjusted by means of a cross pin, I2, inserted between the stop piece and the portion of the bridle passing through the latter. The stop piece I is flexible and is preferably formed of leather, and the securing pin I2 is preferably formed of the same material.

l/Vhen the bridle is secured in position upon the head of the animal, the gages or stops will come against the lower pulley devices H and a iixed relation or limit of downward play between the bit and head gear is thus established and the bridle is retained in adjusted position with relation tothe head of thehorse. By drawing upon the auxiliary bridoon rein F, forming the connection between thebit and head gear, the rein moves through the pulley devices and draws the bit up in the horses mouth in a direct line in relation thereto, which prevents the animal from taking7 or holding the bit in the teeth asis the case when bridles of a construction adapted to draw the bit against the lower jaw of the animal are used.

The Operation and advantages of my in vention will be readily understood bythose skilled in the art to which itappertains. The extreme simplicity of the bridle, combined with its effectiveness and efciency in operation, produces a comparatively inexpensive device with which the rider can retain absolute control of the horse by simply drawing or pulling on the upper or bridoon rein. The connection between the bit and the head gear being formed solely by the adjustable bridoon rein, a more direct and positive operation is secured, and the bridle is readily adapted for use upon animals of different sizes by simply adjusting the gages or stops which establish a fixed limit to the position of the bit with relation to the head gear.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement as herein shown and described, as it is manifest that numerous variations and modications in the detail structure and arrangement may be employed Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. For instance, the pulley devices, the gages or stops, and the general detail features of the head gear and reins, may be of any suitable or adapted construction. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations or modifications as properly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In abridle, comprising the head gear, the bit, pulley or similar devices mounted on the head gear and bit, and the rein connected with the bit and passing through said pulley devices, the combination, with the rein and said pulley devices, of an adjustable gage oonsisting of a flat flexible piece having end perforations through which the rein passes and a transverse key piece or pin inserted between the flexible piece and the rein, substantially as set forth.

2. An improved bridle, comprising the top head gear, the bit, and the main rein having direct connection with the bit rings, in combination with the bridoon rein forming the sole connection between the bit and the top head gear and having direct connection with the bit rings in front of the main rein and pass-` sing over pulley devices on the top head gear, pulley devices mounted upon the bit rings between the ends of the main rein and bridoon rein and carrying the latter, and stops or gages upon the bridoon rein in rear of the pulley devices on the bit rings, substantially as set forth.

3. An improved bridle of the class described, comprising the top head gear, the bit, andthe main rein having direct connection with the bit, substantially as set forth, in combination with the bridoon rein having direct connection with the bit in front of the connection of the main rein and passing over pulley devices on the top head gear, and pulley devices mounted upon the bit between the connections of the main rein and bridoon rein therewith and carrying the bridoon rein, substantially as set forth.

4. The herein described improved bridle, comprising the top head gear, the bit, and the main rein having its ends directly connected to the bit rings, in combination with the bridoon rein forming the sole connection between the bit and the top head gear and having its ends directly connected to the bit rings in front of the main rein and passing over pulley devices on the top head gear, pulley devices loosely mounted upon the bit rings between the ends of the main rein and bridoon rein and carrying the latter, and adjustable gages or stops upon the bridoon rein in rear of the pulley devices on the bit rings, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

y CHARLES SMITH.

Witnesses: J. R. LITTELL, H. S. SHEPARD.

IOC 

